I find the following format is working for me at the moment, though I
am constantly on the lookout for new ideas and will try out different
things....

Give out sheet of paper that states....I would like to breastfeed
but.......and they have to fill in reasons........

Then do a round - name due date etc....and if they would like to share
what they wrote!!!  I write these up under two headings.....barriers
and myths....

we then move to thinking about actually breastfeeding....I ask them to
name the people they will be most comfortable to be with when they
feed their babies.....and then the places they will be most
comfortable when they feed....

We also of course get the list of 'uncomfortable moments' and we
explore this and they usually come up with 'plans of action for
themselves'.

I then use charts (very old NCT Breastfeeding atlas that I laminated
and mounted years ago) and use this for basic information giving....
Different milk for different stages,
difference in milk from start to end of feed
latch
positioning

Everyone then get doll and they have to practise holding and latching
their babies....

Use balloons and plastic bottle tops and hands and various teaching
aids I have gathered over the years to demonstrate latch.

Then show Jan Smillie video  (short five minute clip only of one of
the babies latching).

Go back to first list of barriers and problems.....hand out cards with
the following answers....."Go to local support group", "contact your
GP", "Contact Lactation Consultant",  "contact Breastfeeding
counsellor"  "Feed Baby" -  we then look at the barriers and problems
and see if these answers match....can they think of anything else they
could do.   They have usually 'got it' at the end of this session and
begin to reel off all they have ever heard about breastfeeding and
applying one of the answers.....

Really try to reinforce they should not be doing this on their
own.....thanks to whoever gave me the tribal analogy
recently....working a treat.

I then serve tea and homemade biscuits (thanks Linda Smith) whilst
video runs again....and we have a trying on slings session (I don't
sell but do have selection for them to try on)

Then calm them all down again by giving a relaxation - again an old
one called the 'shopping trip'.

This usually runs for about two and a half hours.

Hope this helps

Geraldine Cahill IBCLC
CORK
IRELAND

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